title: Panoramic radiomorphometric indices as reliable parameters in predicting osteoporosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose was to evaluate the significance of panoramic radiomorphometric indices (mandibular cortical index [MCI], mental index [MI] and panoramic mandibular index [PMI]) as useful tools for identifying osteoporosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred healthy women aged ≥ 30 years were included. Digital panoramic images and bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spines were recorded. Radiomorphometric indices (MCI, MI and PMI) were measured and categorized.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interobserver agreements were kappa = 0.922 for the MCI and alpha = 0.902 and 0.702 for the PMI and MI, respectively. The indices MI, PMI and BMD showed a statistically significant positive correlation with the t score (r = 0.47, 0.36 and 0.96, respectively). The MI showed a statistically significant positive correlation with the PMI (r = 0.72). Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of the MI at a cutoff point of 4.5 mm were 76.9%, 54.1% and 63%, respectively, whereas for the MCI were 66.7%, 75.4% and 72%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Panoramic indices (MI, PMI and MCI) were positively correlated with the t score and BMD of the lumbar spines. The MCI was found to be the most reproducible index.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Basic and Clinical Sciences (SM, EAK) and Postgraduate Studies and Scientific Research (ASTA), King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; and College of Applied Medical Sciences, (FJ) and Department of Diagnostic Oral Sciences Department (HM), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Soad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mansour
authors.forename: Ali S T
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: AlGhamdi
authors.forename: Fawad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Javed
authors.forename: Hazem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marzouk
authors.forename: Emad A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D002508:Cephalometry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010024:Osteoporosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity